Internal Resistance – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Internal Resistance is the natural electrical friction inside every vapebattery or integrated battery device. Measured in milliohms (mΩ), it represents how much the cell resists the flow of current when you press the fire button. Lower internal resistance means more power reaches your coil faster, giving stronger flavour and bigger clouds. Higher resistance wastes energy as heat, shortens battery life and can make your IGET or similar device feel sluggish. In short: it’s the hidden factor that decides how “punchy” your vape feels from the first inhale style to the last.

Technical Details

How It Works

Inside a lithium-ion cell, chemical layers, metal tabs and protective circuitry all add tiny bits of resistance. When you draw current, Ohm’s Law (Voltage = Current × Resistance) causes an internal voltage drop. A 0.05 Ω resistance at 20 A, for example, steals 1 V from the nominal 3.7 V, leaving only 2.7 V for the coil. Modern high-drain 18650/21700 cells list DC-IR values between 8 mΩ (excellent) and 25 mΩ (poor). Temperature, age and cycle count increase these numbers over time. Internal battery pods and disposables like IGET hide this spec but still obey the same physics.

Usage & Tips

  • Check before buying: Look for DC-IR ≤15 mΩ in 18650/21700 cells for sub-ohmvaping.
  • Rotate batteries: Using the same pair daily accelerates resistance rise; rotate at least three sets.
  • Watch sag: If voltage drops below 3.2 V under load, the cell’s internal resistance has likely doubled—time to recycle.
  • Safety first: High resistance generates heat; ensure the insulator ring is intact and wraps are un-damaged to prevent shorts.

History & Context

Early 2010 cig-a-likes used Ni-MH cells with 100 mΩ resistance, delivering weak hits. The 2014 Sony VTC4 introduced sub-15 mΩ lithium-ion chemistry, powering the first cloud-chasing mech mods. Today’s integrated battery disposables and IGET devices use advanced Li-Po pouches engineered for consistent low resistance across 500+ puffs, making high performance accessible to every Australian vaper without external cells.

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